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More like 'ShitStorm' amirite? I'm sure that the comments made by Dr Carole Lieberman regarding Bulletstorm this past week are still fresh in your mind. I'm also sure that for many of you, myself included, they remain a point of contention. Many of you are also likely to be aware of the Google bombing that took place on her Amazon product page, while I don't condone this action I do understand it. With this in mind I decided to contact Dr Lieberman in order to clarify her position on the story - surprisingly I got a response. A far less emotional one than is present in her press release. My questions and her answers follow: 
Clarification time! 1.) A number of the comments made on your Amazon product page have received replies from your 'team'. Are these genuine or the act of a independent party? Yes, a 'member of my team' who does social media did genuinely contact some of the people who left derogatory comments, clearly precipitated by the FoxNews.com article and those that stemmed from it. 2.) The comment made seems rather difficult to portray in a positive light - in what way were your comments taken out of context by Fox news? I wrote lengthy commentaries for FoxNews.com in response to the reporter's questions, including a paragraph from which the sentence, that seems to have garnered the most attention, was changed. I had written: Video games have increasingly, and more brazenly, connected sex and violence in images, actions and words. This has the psychological impact of doubling the excitement, stimulation and incitement to copycat acts. The increase in rapes can be attributed, in large part, to the playing out of such scenes in video games. I also described my background as an expert in media violence: I'm a forensic psychiatrist, former chair of the National Coalition on TV Violence, and expert on media violence. I also contributed a chapter/essay to Larry King's book, Beyond A Reasonable Doubt, about the negative impact of media violence. I will be happy to send you that essay. My background also includes having been a media violence researcher for 20 years, during which time I have testified before Congress, stopped the 'Schwarzenegger rocket' (which was to have had an ad for "Last Action Hero" on the outside), done numerous media interviews on this topic, and so on. 3a.) When did you become aware of all this? When did I become aware of the FoxNews.com story? When I was sent a Google alert to it. 3b.) If prior to the Amazon issue, have you had any contact with Fox news regarding this? Not sure of the exact timing, since I have been bombarded by emails, interview requests, and additional Google alerts, as well as Amazon, but I have complained to the reporter from FoxNews.com. Here is a portion of what I wrote to him - I had no idea what a backlash your story would generate. I have been a researcher and expert in media violence for years - and have spoken out in the media countless times about it. I was the head of NCTV, testified before Congress, and even stopped the Schwarzenegger rocket in 1993 because it was going to have an ad for his violent movie "Last Action Hero" on it. But, never has there been such a 'violent' backlash. These are obviously people who have played too many violent video games themselves, and/or may be working for the company that produced Bulletstorm. However, you did take my quote out of context which has contributed to the problem. In my email to you I wrote: Video games have increasingly, and more brazenly, connected sex and violence in images, actions and words. This has the psychological impact of doubling the excitement, stimulation and incitement to copycat acts. The increase in rapes can be attributed, in large part, to the playing out of such scenes in video games. You distilled this down to: Carol Lieberman, a psychologist and book author, told FoxNews.com that sexual situations and acts in video games -- highlighted so well in Bulletstorm -- have led to real-world sexual violence. Also, my name is spelled Carole Lieberman, and I am a psychiatrist not a psychologist. What do you suggest to correct these errors? 
Pictured: Fox news reporter - next time use spellcheck! 3c. Are you going to take any action against Fox news for your misrepresentation? Not sure. It depends on how damaging to me this turns out to be. 4.) What are your actual views on the subject? Here is the essay that I was invited to write for Larry King's book, Beyond A Reasonable Doubt. 5.) As you're aware the Fox news article has been the subject of a great deal of controversy in the gamer community, do you think this is justified? I think it is very sad, and rather frightening, that so many people are still so ill-informed, or in denial, about research that has been done over decades by researchers all over the world. It's similar to cigarette manufacturers denying that cigarettes cause cancer. I understand that some of this is due to the greed of the video game manufacturers, but still, it is time for us all to try to make the world a safer, more peaceful place. And raising children on games that teach them that murder and rape is just a 'game', creates a sad prognosis for our future. I treat patients, and evaluate forensic cases, whose lives have been shattered by acts of aggression (including rape) where the perpetrator has been incited by video games or other violent media, and often even acted out copy cat violence. 
Ok, who let the Geraniums play BulletStorm? Thank you for the opportunity to clarify my position. Carole Lieberman, M.D. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm sure this is not the response many of you were expecting after the Doctor's claims of misrepresentation, but nonetheless these are the answers I've received. It would appear as though her apology is in regards to any offence caused, rather than the actual content of her comment. However, I do think that, since the Doctor is open to communication on the subject, a discourse can be opened. As such I've replied with the invitation to discuss the subject in further depth. My e-mail to the Doctor, and her response (SHOULD she respond), will be the subject of my next blog. If you have any questions or points to put towards the good Doctor do let me know!
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Living the dream since March 16, 2006
Living the dream since March 16, 2006
Someone who actually took the time to open a serious discussion with a person who talked bad about video games, instead of simply going on a nerd rage and borderline harassing such a person and finally claiming it's justified because 'she's a liar and she deserved it', thereby more or less proving all of that person's preconceptions?
What a completely silly idea, LsTr Of SmG. Whatever will you think of next?
Well actually I considered the inflatable dartboard - but then wrote it off as being far too possible.
You see the problem lies not with the dartboard itself but with the use of REAL darts. Velcro darts, for example, would make the endeavor entirely possible.
Logic ruins all the best jokes.
Great job though. This and the Wired interview - in which she also refuses to cite sources - really show just how strong her credibility and position are.
In all seriousness though, what you are doing here is genuine Journalism, and I would love to see more.
I read her essay that she submitted for Beyond a Reasonable Doubt and one thing that bothered me is the lack of citation. If you would, ask her for citation for some of the studies that she talks about; I have yet to come across any throughout this whole uproar and am curious as to how well the hold up under scrutiny (just 3 or 4 of the strongest, I don't care for thousands).
In the essay she makes this statement, "...criminals, whose legal fate might be softened by their admitting to being under the influence of a violent movie or videogame, deny such mitigating factors. They would rather be convicted of homicide than be seen as a gullible consumer of media that incited them to commit a copycat crime." To me this seems like a bold an illogical leap to make. I would like to know if this is truly what she believes or if possibly she believes that it is more plausible that such violent media has become so ingrained in society that it is no longer something they feel is worth mentioning. Conversely, from what information I am privy to, it seems that this case is reversed, where defendants are all too happy to lay blame on something as esoteric as the effects of violence in media, in order to fully accept punishment for their actions.
Also, she brings up the argument, as has been done many times, of the children. I would like to know her views on the ESRB, and what she has to say about this article and the study it is based on.
Also, I am interested to see if she has seen this and would be able to provide a rebuttal.
Sorry if this is long winded, but I look forward to your next post.
Thanks, yes that was a bone of contention for me as well, but I see no reason in getting annoyed with her about it yet. I'm an eternal optimist, and if I can change one persons view of video games as a medium then I'll be happy.
...particularly if that person is relatively high profile. ;-)
@ Enkido,
Yes I did note that too. My first port of call in my most recent e-mail to her was to ask her for citation. It's now just waiting to see if she accepts my offer of starting a discourse on the subject.
Should she not... Well, there will still be a follow up blog post that will include my e-mail to her and my thoughts on why she may have turned down my offer.
Should she take up my offer I will endeavour to direct her to your links on the subject - thanks for the contribution!
This has a good thoughtful writeup on the subject (under Rape Culture. This stems from that whole ridiculous Dickwolves thing) and violence and such in games.
One interesting thing I read was about Rapelay and its use as an outlet for emotions. While I can't personally speak about rape urges, I can talk hours about violence.
I can see where he gets his ideas. For example, I'm easily ticked off. If I just have to, must, completely, absolutely MUST hit someone...I play a fighting game or cause havoc in Saints Row 2 rather than act out in some stupid manner.
Then again, I'm not the same as everyone else...but it still seems like its general use is just for a scapegoat.
Furthermore, I don't get what she means when she says that the video game industry is increasingly connecting sex with violence. I mean I know Bulletstorm has a skill shot called "gang bang" and there's the old tradition of "teabagging" in Halo, but she seems to be making quite a leap when she says things like that cause the increase in rape. Sex in video games is so laughably tame, that it's a complete joke when people who have know clue act like it's running rampant throughout every game. Anyone who's played through Mass Effect and remembers the idiotic controversy surrounding its sex scenes knows what I'm talking about.
As a side note, when she mentions all of the research that has been done, most of it is on the effect violent media has on aggression. Once again she appears to be deceptive as increased aggression does not = rape/murder/extreme violence.
Maybe you might get an increased likelihood of losing your temper, but that doesn't mean that you're going to go commit an act of extreme violence.
In any case thanks for doing this LsTr. It's good to know that some of us can react rationally instead of giving the doctor the reaction she expects. Much props and I look forward to your next post!
Is that why the number of rapes in America have gone down 85% since 1980?
That's also a point that I have put to her in my most recent e-mail (although the statistic I came across was about 30%, but regardless it demonstrates a downward trend).
No response yet, although that wont deter my follow-up blog post.
No need for thanks my friend, in fact I'd rather like to thank you for the support!
@ Caspulex,
I agree with you - and in regards to Rapelay it's important to note that it was widely condemned by the gaming community. To condemn games because of Rapelay is equivalent to condemning the film community for snuff films.
I'll go out on a limb here and say I'm not greatly impressed. A lot of her references refer to violent pornography...
Anywho, look out for the follow up blog post in the next couple of days.